Q: Our potted ficus was one story high, too tall to cover during the freeze. The leaves are brown and falling. Do we trim it or are the roots dead? — E.K., Houston

A: To determine if the plant is still alive, gently scratch a branch or the trunk with your thumbnail. If you see firm, green wood, it's alive at that point. After danger of frost, prune where green wood begins. If you find no green, remove all dead wood; new shoots should appear if the roots didn't freeze.